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Ms. Jennifer Crawford Abbott is a graduate student in the Counselor Education program at ECU. She is currently both a mentor in the Project STEPP program and a part-time academic advisor in the College of Health and Human Performance. Jennifer graduated with her undergraduate degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo, NY, and worked for a year as a Job Coach before pursuing her graduate degree here at ECU. Her past experiences as an undergraduate, working as a P.O.W.E.R. Advocate, a Leadership Peer Educator, and as student programmer in student life, and her work experience as a Job Coach, transitioning individuals with disabilities in to the workforce, greatly influence her abilities as a mentor. As a trained counselor she has knowledge and understanding of student development and its impact on student success. She also knows personally what it takes to be a successful student. In addition, Jennifer’s current work as an academic advisor and COAD1000 instructor allows her to provide assistance to students in the program that is specific to ECU. Jennifer has been with the program since its pilot year, 2006, and although she graduates in December, she will continue to provide support until May 2008. Jennifer and the other Project STEPP mentor, Jennifer Palumbo, have closely worked together to develop handbooks for future mentors and tutors.

Degrees
BA in Social Sciences Interdisciplinary, Health and Human Service: Early Childhood, State University of New York at Buffalo, May 2004

MS in Counselor Education, East Carolina University, December 2007

Teaching Experience
Adjunct Professor, COAD1000, Fall 2006
Adjunct Professor, COAD1000, Fall 2007

Presentations
presented a poster presentation on ‘The Impact of a Social Network on Exceptional Students’ at the 2005 NCSCA Annual Conference

co-presented a poster presentation on ‘Creative Strategies for Adapting Text to Meet the Needs of Struggling Readers’ at the 2007 NC-CEC Annual Conference

Interest
Technology
The role of counselors working with students with disabilities
The impact of transitions on development counseling theory